Hertfordshire’s open water community
Swim free.
Swim strong.
Swim distance.
Bringing together open water and distance swimmers from across Hertfordshire – all clubs, all abilities, all welcome.
100+
swimmers, coaches & supporters
Clubs
Swim England affiliated clubs welcome
Coaches
Swim England qualified coaches
2019
National
bronze medal
Event news
2026 Open Water Race Day
We are excited to announce our first Open Water Race Day will be held on Sunday 31 May 2026.
Entries open on 8 May 2026.
What we stand for
Built on shared values
Our aim is to build an open water community for all club swimmers across Hertfordshire, giving swimmers the opportunity to experience distance and open water swimming to boost their passion for the sport.
Swimmer first
Every swimmer’s safety, enjoyment, and personal growth is our top priority – always.
Inclusivity
We celebrate different abilities, paces, and events. There is no “one size fits all” in open water.
Knowledge sharing
We freely pass on experience, skills and knowledge to build a stronger swimming community for the long term.
Our vision
A future where every swimming club
naturally incorporates open water
into their programme.
Our mission
To inspire and support more swimmers to embrace open water and distance swimming across Hertfordshire and beyond.
Educate and support
We educate coaches, parents, and clubs on the physical and mental benefits of open water swimming.
Foster competition
Healthy, respectful competition between swimmers from all clubs at Regional and National Championships.
Celebrate achievement
We encourage every swimmer to experience the deep sense of accomplishment that distance swimming brings — regardless of pace.
Our story
Rooted in the water
Open water swimming has been part of Hertfordshire’s swimming culture for years. We’ve been well represented at Regional and National Championships and that fire only keeps growing.
It’s a side of swimming which often ignites a swimmer’s spirit and provides opportunities to visit beautiful places and share experiences with peers.
Achievements
- William Fawcett – Bronze, Swim England Open Water Nationals 2019
- Two relay teams successfully completed the English Channel
- Prisha Tapre – Solo English Channel in under 12 hours
- Jeffrey Gill – Winter Swimming Champion Oulo 2026
- Felipe Irvine – BLDSA Windermere Junior Champ 2025
Our team
Meet the crew
Alberto Marigo
I’m passionate about the technical aspects of swimming. As a swimmer myself with experience of marathon swimming I appreciate the importance of stroke efficiency and love watching swimmers pace and endurance improve. I enjoy coaching for Amersham swimming club and running groups and 1-2 sessions for swimmers of all ages.
Find out more:
bluepointswimming.as.me/
schedule/498b5f4c
Alex Walker
My strong belief is that open water provides an incredibly important opportunity for club swimmers to use their skills in an alternative setting. Both pool and open water play a vital part in developing young athletes – not just as swimmers, but as adults who stay in the sport for life. Currently coaching for CoStA SC, I have also held development and performance roles at Bushey SC and Amersham SC.
Find out more:
greatescapesport.co.uk
Dom Tinley
I’m an endurance swimmer who gets there eventually, having completed many marathon swims and a solo Channel crossing in 2017 raising funds for mental health charities. I’d love more people to discover the joys of open water swimming – it might take a few dips, but it will get under your skin. On dry land I’m a digital strategy consultant, and I built this website.
Find out more:
domtinley.net
Fernanda “Panda” Lake,
Lake Training
From left: Rich, Panda, Sharron, Dean
We are committed to delivering high-quality, professional training tailored to real-world situations. From First Aid and Train the Trainer programmes to Water Safety qualifications, our focus is on building confidence, practical skills, and industry-standard knowledge. Alongside training, we also provide reliable small event safety and medical cover, ensuring participants and organisers are supported by experienced and approachable professionals every step of the way.
Find out more:
pand-aid.co.uk &
supwhales.com
Heather Schelhase
I have a passion for front crawl, and love helping swimmers of all abilities build confidence, refine their technique, and discover just how rewarding open water swimming can be. Through Pool2Lake, I specialise in front crawl technique and swim fitness – whether you’re tackling your first open water swim or aiming to sharpen your stroke for performance. This year marks 10 years of open water coaching, alongside 17 years of teaching swimming overall.
Find out more:
pool2lake.uk
Jeremy Irvine
What began as helping out poolside as a swim dad eventually led me to qualify as a coach, and then to swim Windermere and the English Channel. Those experiences brought an overwhelming sense of accomplishment, and since then I’ve been passionate about sharing the same transformative challenges with others.
Paul Meyler
I’m a swim dad, support coach, and masters swimmer with a huge belief in bringing fun to swimming – whether in the pool or open water, always with a smile. I’ve supported swimmers through some remarkable achievements, from English Channel solos and relays to the BLDSA Champion of Champions in Dover. I’ve personally completed many marathon swims and two Channel relays. Away from the water, I work as a professional photographer across everything from commercial shoots to charity events.
Find out more:
paulmeyler.co.uk
Steve Williams
I’ve been a cold water swimmer for over 15 years, taking part in marathon swims and channel relays along the way. As a swim parent, I also became a J2 Swim Official and have spent many years poolside supporting squad swimmers and the wider community. When I’m not at my local lido, you’ll usually find me designing or printing. I’m a creative director, graphic artist and screen printer, specialising in bold, handcrafted print work and visual storytelling.
Find out more:
stevewilliamscreative.com &
instagram.com/stevewilliamsuk
Ready to swim open water?
Join swimmers from clubs across Hertfordshire. All abilities welcome – the water is waiting.